Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Sorry about my delay in updating, I
had a very busy weekend myself. I'd like to thank all my readers and
reviewers..I can't believe this story had passed 200 reviews. amazing!
(On another note) I received a review that really crawled under my skin. Then as I began to read reviews from some of my favorite stories, I became more irritated. This is more of a pep talk to myself and other authors who sometimes get slapped in the face by grammatical Nazis. (newspaper term) Writing is an art, just like playing music or painting a picture. If you just go though the motions you're no better than anyone else. Anybody can learn to play an instrument and read music, it takes a special person to be able to make those notes life off the pages and move you.
I AM NOT AN EDITOR!!! I will NEVER! Be an editor, and if you ask J.K. Rowlings, I'm willing to bet she'd say the same thing. Before I submit a story to my grammatical Nazis, I usually proofread it about, I don't know, 30 or 40 times. I don't do that with my fanfictions, mainly because I don't have the time, nor the patience. I'm going to make tons of mistakes, I know, because I catch more of them every time I re-read my story. No matter how many times I proof a story, or an article, I'll never catch everything.
I enjoy constructive criticism, if I'm constantly misspelling a word or something along those lines, tell me, I honestly want you to because it makes me grow as a writer. BUT don't tell you can't continue to read my story due to my massive amount of errors, because I really don't care. I'd prefer you to keep that bit of knowledge to yourself out of respect for my blundering mess of a story.
Back to the pep talk, to all you inspiring writers who may not be grammatically savvy don't listen to the critics. Telling the story is the difficult part, editing is the easy part.
Anyways.thanks again, let me know your feedback!
Read and Review Nothing is my Own
************************************************************************
Chapter Twenty-One: Excuses
Harry and Ron dashed down the boy's dormitory stairs in the Gryffindor house.
"If we're late, O'Riley will kill us!" Ron exclaimed just before the reached the portrait.
Harry shook his head, "how could we oversleep like that."
"HOOT"
The two boys spun around to find themselves face to face with the scrawniest owl imaginable. It sat there hooting unhappily, staring Harry Potter straight in the eyes.
"Harry, I think it's for you," Ron said carefully.
Harry narrowed his eyes and walked cautiously over to the hooting bird, the bird snapped at his hand when he stretched it out, and dropped the letter on the couch.
"Blood bird is a pest," Ron said shocked by the owls behavior.
The scrawny owl flew around the room and made a dive towards Ron's head before sailing out the window.
Ron composed himself, "who's it from?"
Harry didn't answer he just stared silently at the tarnished colored letter in his hands. He made a dash for the fireplace ripping the letter into small shreds during his pace.
"Harry, what are you doing?" Ron asked slightly puzzled.
"What's it look like I'm doing," Harry snapped.
"But you don't even know who it's from," Ron stared.
"Wormtail," Harry replied as if he'd been asked a question.
Ron eyed him for a moment, "the same Wormtail that was Scabbers?"
"He wrote me earlier this year."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Ron questioned.
"Only Hermione knew, I made her swear not to tell anyone," Harry said avoiding Ron's eyes.
"What did he want last time?" Ron continued.
Harry let his eyes carry towards the clock, "we're late."
"O'Rileys gonna kill us," Ron whined before the two boys ran out the portrait entrance and down the corridor.
It wasn't the first time they had been late this year, if it had they might have got off with a lecture, but Professor O'Riley eyed them disappointedly as they busted though the class room doors.
"You're late gentleman," she stated the obvious.
"Sorry Professor," the two boys said in unison.
She turned her attention back to her lecture, "defense against a Vampire isn't an easy task, can anyone tell me what your first line of defense."
"A cross and a clove if garlic," Seamus said aloud.
"Rubbish," she continued, "anyone else have a guess?"
Hermione shot up her hand, "play dead, Vampires can't feed off the blood of the dead."
"Good Miss Granger, at least somebody is doing the assigned reading."
Dead, that was becoming of Harry's least favorite word, he raised his hand thinking about a question off topic, "Professor, have you ever heard of a Death Journal?"
"A little off the assigned topic Mr. Potter," Professor O'Riley questioned.
Harry nodded, "I know, this subject just reminded me of it."
"What's a Death Journal?" Ron questioned for a eager classroom full of ears.
Professor O'Riley let out a small grin, "you've successfully gotten the class off subject Harry, why don't you explain to your classmates what a Death Journal is."
"I'm not really positive myself, I think it is supposedly a way for the dead to communicate," Harry started.
"Exactly, a supposed way," she emphasized. "Many scholars have disproved their legitimacy."
"If there are no further questions we'll continue with our topic," she bartered before turning her attention back towards vampires.
Finally class came to an end, which was shortly considering how late Ron and Harry had been.
"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, please come see me before leaving," Professor O'Riley announced before dismissing class.
Ron sighed, "another detention I bet."
"Well, if you two weren't always getting into trouble," Hermione started.
Harry fought back the urge to yell at her again for lecturing, "I got another letter."
"From him?" Hermione asked deducing the sender immediately.
Ron stared at her amazed, "how do you do that?"
Hermione eyed him waiting for an answer from Harry.
"Yes," Harry finally acknowledged.
"What did he want this time?" Hermione pushed.
Ron smiled, "he doesn't know, burnt it up before reading it."
"Harry, you didn't," Hermione frowned.
"Gentleman, are you planning of being tardy for your next class also?" Professor O'Riley called out.
Hermione bit her lip before breaking her promise, "Harry has been getting letters from a Death Eater."
"Hermione you promised," Harry started.
Hermione looked at him desperately, "I know what I promised, but I would never forgive myself if something happened."
"What is she talking about Harry?" Professor O'Riley pushed.
Harry sighed, "Wormtail, or otherwise known as Peter Pettigrew has been writing me, I've gotten two letters from him so far."
December O'Riley's face went pale at the mere mention of Pettigrew's name, "you haven't told Professor Dumbledore?"
Harry shook his head.
"The three of you, stay here," she motioned before leaving the classroom.
Harry wanted to be mad at Hermione, but he couldn't be, she was just worried about him.
"I'm sorry Harry, I know you didn't want to tell Dumbledore," Hermione whispered reading his face.
Harry nodded, "I know, you don't have to apologize."
Professor O'Riley returned a few moments later, "Ron and Hermione can go to class, explain to your professors that I held you late. Harry, we need have a talk."
Hermione and Ron gathered their things and shot Harry a reproached look before disappearing.
"What do we need to have a talk about Professor?" Harry finally asked breaking the silence.
"Pettigrew, he's a dangerous man. Very manipulative. Professor Dumbledore seems to believe if he's contacting you it's in sincerity, but I disagree. Stay away from him, and don't' trust anything he sends you."
"Professor Dumbledore told me once that Wormtail is in debt to me for having Sirius and Remus spare his life," Harry explained.
"I'm aware of Professor's Dumbledore's reason. Honestly, as noble as your intentions might have been, you should have let them kill him," she said coldly.
"Professor?" Harry started taken back by her bluntness.
The angry clouds building behind her eyes started to lighten, "I'm sorry. Have you considered your Occlemency lessons?"
Harry nodded, "I have, though I must confess I'm a bit nervous."
"Understandably so, would you prefer Professor Dumbledore teach you himself?"
"He told me you were one of the best Occlemenist he knew. He said you learnt it for personal reason?" Harry questioned.
She sighed, "I did, my secrets were ripped from my mind, and I've never forgiven myself for the outcome they caused. Afterwards, I swore to myself it would never happen again."
"I'm afraid I don't understand," Harry said lightly.
She smiled, "you will in time, I promise everything will be revealed."
"Can we start tomorrow, with Occlemency and all," Harry finally said after a few more seconds of silence.
"Of course," she replied with an expression of relief across her face.
"Don't forget about DA tonight, I thought maybe we'd practice that cloning spell again," he continued rising to his feet.
She shook her head, "I forgot to tell you, I won't be at the meeting tonight, I have, Order business to attend to."
Harry eyed her carefully, "I'll see you tomorrow night after dinner than."
It was way to late to go to Divination, not that Harry minded missing that particular subject. He had been pairing up with Susan Bones for the past month or so, and without Ron, the sanity keeping ritual of class bashing had faded.
He walked at a painfully slow pace towards the Divination classroom, he'd at least have to explain to Professor Trelawney where he had been, not that she'd care.
"Ten more minuets to kill," Harry muttered to himself.
It seemed to take an eternity but class finally dismissed, and Harry pushed his way past his exiting classmates, "Professor?"
"Ah Harry, I was beginning to worry. Something terrible is destined to happen to you soon," Professor Trelawney said turning to her missing student.
"I just wanted to tell you I was Professor O'Riley during class, and I'll get the assignment from Lavender Brown tonight," Harry stated flatly.
She smiled, "Pavarti Patil has your assignment, you'll have to get it from her since she did volunteer."
"She did?" Harry questioned.
"I sense something beautiful yet to evolve between the two of you," Trelawney turned with a smile.
Harry hated Professor Trelawney's constant torture, why couldn't she just not sense something for a change. He had a full ten minuets before Potions, plenty of time. Plenty of time until he passed that broom closet and felt a forceful pair of hand pull him in. He tried to make a reach for his wand, but a firm pair of lips pressing against his told him it wasn't the kind of danger that required a wand.
Harry pulled back and tried to get his eyes to adjust but is was too dark to make out who was standing opposite of him.
"I'm really getting tired of these games."
He knew that giggling voice, "Pavarti? What are you doing?"
"What you want me to, did you get my wishing potion?" she asked quietly.
"You sent that to me?" Harry continued.
She giggled, "of course I did silly." Leaning closer to his ear, "I bet I know what you wished for."
"What?" he replied stupidly before she flung herself onto him for another kiss.
"Pavarti," he chocked out as he pulled back from her embrace.
"Harry, stop playing hard to get. We've got the perfect cover with me dating Terry and you dating Cho. Nobody has to know about this," she whispered into his ear so softly that goose bumps rose on his body.
He tried to shake himself, "I'm not dating Cho."
"My sister says you are," Pavarti smirked. "You did visit her while she was in the hospital wing."
"We're just friends," Harry said flatly.
"Do you kiss all your friends?" she continued to interrogate.
Harry sighed, "Pavarti, I really like you, but I can't do this. It would be fair to Terry or to you."
"What more do I have to do Potter, I'm throwing myself at you! I'll dump Terry if that's what you want!" Pavarti pleaded.
Harry felt terrible, she had to really like him if she was willing to pull a stunt like this, "it isn't you, I've already told you. I can't handle a relationship right now."
"What are you so afraid of?" she questioned skeptically.
"Nothing," Harry said instantly.
She made a reach for his hand in the dark, and after stumbling clumsily a few times found it, "we could try, I know you like me. I can tell by the way you look at me."
"I do like you, but," he started.
"No buts, if you like me and I like you then why can't we work something out. Unless there is something go on between you and Cho."
"Nothing is going on between me and Cho Chang. I just don't think it would be a good idea for us to date," Harry tried again.
He could feel her frustration though the dark without even seeing her face, " that isn't good enough, give me a real reason."
"I don't want you to get hurt. I'm not the safest person to socialize with incase you haven't noticed," Harry tried to joke.
She giggled, "I like my men dangerous."
"Please Pavarti, can't we just be friends."
"Fine," she finally conceded before placing another kiss smack on his lips, "with privileges."
Pavarti opened the closet door and a splash of light burned Harry's eyes as she disappeared. His stomach did a few back flips as he watched her walk away. She was persistent, he had to give her that.
His spell binding moment finally ended and with a quick glance around the empty corridors he let out a few choice words, third class in a row he was going to be late to now. Snape would surely give him detention, and he had DA tonight.
"Why Mr. Potter, finally decided to grace us with your appearance I see," Snape cooed as Harry made his way into class.
Harry lowered his eyes, "sorry professor, I was talking to Professor Trelawney."
"May I inquire for what reason?" Snape continued dangerously.
Harry took a deep breath, "I was explaining to her why I missed class today."
"Continue," Snape instructed.
"That's it," Harry tried to finish.
"Well, your excuse is as pathetic as usual," Snape said hatefully before turning away. "Ten points from Gryffindor and detention tonight."
"But," Harry started to argue.
"You don't approve," Snape said suddenly.
"I have a meeting tonight I need to attend," Harry said knowing it was pointless.
Snape let a evil grin creep across his face, "tonight, I believe someone needs to clean out the owlery."
Hermione let out a sigh of relief when she noticed that Harry wasn't going to argue back.
"Looks like you'll have to take over the DA tonight," Harry said as they gathered their things at the end of class.
"Why were you late anyways?" Hermione asked.
"I've said already, I was telling Trelawney why I missed class," Harry stated.
"Did Professor O'Riley say anything?" Hermione pushed.
"Not really, we're going to start Occlemency."
Hermione smiled, "that's wonderful, I so glad you've decided to restart your lessons."
"Harry, wait up!" called a sweet voice from across the hall.
Harry took a deep breath recognizing her voice instantly.
"Hello Cho," Harry greeted noticing her eyes lingering on Hermione for a second longer than he would have preferred.
"I was wondering if we could talk," Cho said carefully.
"Hermione, I'll catch up with you later," Harry said taking Cho's arm and leading her in the opposite direction.
"Don't forget we have Magical Creatures after lunch," Hermione reminded him.
Harry nodded.
"What happened last night, what did Dumbledore say?" Cho said as soon as they got out of earshot.
"Nothing really, he wants me to start defense lessons with Professor O'Riley," Harry said vaguely.
"Defense lesson, on top of class and DA, how much more Defense do you need?" Cho questioned.
Harry smiled, "are you going to lunch right now?"
"No, I have Herbology in the green house now," Cho said sadly.
"Can you meet me tonight?" Harry suddenly said feeling slightly mischievous.
"After DA?" Cho asked skeptically.
"No, Hermione taking over tonight, I have detention," Harry said bitterly.
Cho narrowed her eyes, "when then?"
"Meet me right outside the Ravenclaw entrance at midnight," he said with a grin.
"Harry, we'll be caught," she protested.
"Trust me, will you be there?" Harry pushed.
She nodded nervously with an eager expression as if she was thinking, "what in the world is he up to?"
(On another note) I received a review that really crawled under my skin. Then as I began to read reviews from some of my favorite stories, I became more irritated. This is more of a pep talk to myself and other authors who sometimes get slapped in the face by grammatical Nazis. (newspaper term) Writing is an art, just like playing music or painting a picture. If you just go though the motions you're no better than anyone else. Anybody can learn to play an instrument and read music, it takes a special person to be able to make those notes life off the pages and move you.
I AM NOT AN EDITOR!!! I will NEVER! Be an editor, and if you ask J.K. Rowlings, I'm willing to bet she'd say the same thing. Before I submit a story to my grammatical Nazis, I usually proofread it about, I don't know, 30 or 40 times. I don't do that with my fanfictions, mainly because I don't have the time, nor the patience. I'm going to make tons of mistakes, I know, because I catch more of them every time I re-read my story. No matter how many times I proof a story, or an article, I'll never catch everything.
I enjoy constructive criticism, if I'm constantly misspelling a word or something along those lines, tell me, I honestly want you to because it makes me grow as a writer. BUT don't tell you can't continue to read my story due to my massive amount of errors, because I really don't care. I'd prefer you to keep that bit of knowledge to yourself out of respect for my blundering mess of a story.
Back to the pep talk, to all you inspiring writers who may not be grammatically savvy don't listen to the critics. Telling the story is the difficult part, editing is the easy part.
Anyways.thanks again, let me know your feedback!
Read and Review Nothing is my Own
************************************************************************
Chapter Twenty-One: Excuses
Harry and Ron dashed down the boy's dormitory stairs in the Gryffindor house.
"If we're late, O'Riley will kill us!" Ron exclaimed just before the reached the portrait.
Harry shook his head, "how could we oversleep like that."
"HOOT"
The two boys spun around to find themselves face to face with the scrawniest owl imaginable. It sat there hooting unhappily, staring Harry Potter straight in the eyes.
"Harry, I think it's for you," Ron said carefully.
Harry narrowed his eyes and walked cautiously over to the hooting bird, the bird snapped at his hand when he stretched it out, and dropped the letter on the couch.
"Blood bird is a pest," Ron said shocked by the owls behavior.
The scrawny owl flew around the room and made a dive towards Ron's head before sailing out the window.
Ron composed himself, "who's it from?"
Harry didn't answer he just stared silently at the tarnished colored letter in his hands. He made a dash for the fireplace ripping the letter into small shreds during his pace.
"Harry, what are you doing?" Ron asked slightly puzzled.
"What's it look like I'm doing," Harry snapped.
"But you don't even know who it's from," Ron stared.
"Wormtail," Harry replied as if he'd been asked a question.
Ron eyed him for a moment, "the same Wormtail that was Scabbers?"
"He wrote me earlier this year."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Ron questioned.
"Only Hermione knew, I made her swear not to tell anyone," Harry said avoiding Ron's eyes.
"What did he want last time?" Ron continued.
Harry let his eyes carry towards the clock, "we're late."
"O'Rileys gonna kill us," Ron whined before the two boys ran out the portrait entrance and down the corridor.
It wasn't the first time they had been late this year, if it had they might have got off with a lecture, but Professor O'Riley eyed them disappointedly as they busted though the class room doors.
"You're late gentleman," she stated the obvious.
"Sorry Professor," the two boys said in unison.
She turned her attention back to her lecture, "defense against a Vampire isn't an easy task, can anyone tell me what your first line of defense."
"A cross and a clove if garlic," Seamus said aloud.
"Rubbish," she continued, "anyone else have a guess?"
Hermione shot up her hand, "play dead, Vampires can't feed off the blood of the dead."
"Good Miss Granger, at least somebody is doing the assigned reading."
Dead, that was becoming of Harry's least favorite word, he raised his hand thinking about a question off topic, "Professor, have you ever heard of a Death Journal?"
"A little off the assigned topic Mr. Potter," Professor O'Riley questioned.
Harry nodded, "I know, this subject just reminded me of it."
"What's a Death Journal?" Ron questioned for a eager classroom full of ears.
Professor O'Riley let out a small grin, "you've successfully gotten the class off subject Harry, why don't you explain to your classmates what a Death Journal is."
"I'm not really positive myself, I think it is supposedly a way for the dead to communicate," Harry started.
"Exactly, a supposed way," she emphasized. "Many scholars have disproved their legitimacy."
"If there are no further questions we'll continue with our topic," she bartered before turning her attention back towards vampires.
Finally class came to an end, which was shortly considering how late Ron and Harry had been.
"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, please come see me before leaving," Professor O'Riley announced before dismissing class.
Ron sighed, "another detention I bet."
"Well, if you two weren't always getting into trouble," Hermione started.
Harry fought back the urge to yell at her again for lecturing, "I got another letter."
"From him?" Hermione asked deducing the sender immediately.
Ron stared at her amazed, "how do you do that?"
Hermione eyed him waiting for an answer from Harry.
"Yes," Harry finally acknowledged.
"What did he want this time?" Hermione pushed.
Ron smiled, "he doesn't know, burnt it up before reading it."
"Harry, you didn't," Hermione frowned.
"Gentleman, are you planning of being tardy for your next class also?" Professor O'Riley called out.
Hermione bit her lip before breaking her promise, "Harry has been getting letters from a Death Eater."
"Hermione you promised," Harry started.
Hermione looked at him desperately, "I know what I promised, but I would never forgive myself if something happened."
"What is she talking about Harry?" Professor O'Riley pushed.
Harry sighed, "Wormtail, or otherwise known as Peter Pettigrew has been writing me, I've gotten two letters from him so far."
December O'Riley's face went pale at the mere mention of Pettigrew's name, "you haven't told Professor Dumbledore?"
Harry shook his head.
"The three of you, stay here," she motioned before leaving the classroom.
Harry wanted to be mad at Hermione, but he couldn't be, she was just worried about him.
"I'm sorry Harry, I know you didn't want to tell Dumbledore," Hermione whispered reading his face.
Harry nodded, "I know, you don't have to apologize."
Professor O'Riley returned a few moments later, "Ron and Hermione can go to class, explain to your professors that I held you late. Harry, we need have a talk."
Hermione and Ron gathered their things and shot Harry a reproached look before disappearing.
"What do we need to have a talk about Professor?" Harry finally asked breaking the silence.
"Pettigrew, he's a dangerous man. Very manipulative. Professor Dumbledore seems to believe if he's contacting you it's in sincerity, but I disagree. Stay away from him, and don't' trust anything he sends you."
"Professor Dumbledore told me once that Wormtail is in debt to me for having Sirius and Remus spare his life," Harry explained.
"I'm aware of Professor's Dumbledore's reason. Honestly, as noble as your intentions might have been, you should have let them kill him," she said coldly.
"Professor?" Harry started taken back by her bluntness.
The angry clouds building behind her eyes started to lighten, "I'm sorry. Have you considered your Occlemency lessons?"
Harry nodded, "I have, though I must confess I'm a bit nervous."
"Understandably so, would you prefer Professor Dumbledore teach you himself?"
"He told me you were one of the best Occlemenist he knew. He said you learnt it for personal reason?" Harry questioned.
She sighed, "I did, my secrets were ripped from my mind, and I've never forgiven myself for the outcome they caused. Afterwards, I swore to myself it would never happen again."
"I'm afraid I don't understand," Harry said lightly.
She smiled, "you will in time, I promise everything will be revealed."
"Can we start tomorrow, with Occlemency and all," Harry finally said after a few more seconds of silence.
"Of course," she replied with an expression of relief across her face.
"Don't forget about DA tonight, I thought maybe we'd practice that cloning spell again," he continued rising to his feet.
She shook her head, "I forgot to tell you, I won't be at the meeting tonight, I have, Order business to attend to."
Harry eyed her carefully, "I'll see you tomorrow night after dinner than."
It was way to late to go to Divination, not that Harry minded missing that particular subject. He had been pairing up with Susan Bones for the past month or so, and without Ron, the sanity keeping ritual of class bashing had faded.
He walked at a painfully slow pace towards the Divination classroom, he'd at least have to explain to Professor Trelawney where he had been, not that she'd care.
"Ten more minuets to kill," Harry muttered to himself.
It seemed to take an eternity but class finally dismissed, and Harry pushed his way past his exiting classmates, "Professor?"
"Ah Harry, I was beginning to worry. Something terrible is destined to happen to you soon," Professor Trelawney said turning to her missing student.
"I just wanted to tell you I was Professor O'Riley during class, and I'll get the assignment from Lavender Brown tonight," Harry stated flatly.
She smiled, "Pavarti Patil has your assignment, you'll have to get it from her since she did volunteer."
"She did?" Harry questioned.
"I sense something beautiful yet to evolve between the two of you," Trelawney turned with a smile.
Harry hated Professor Trelawney's constant torture, why couldn't she just not sense something for a change. He had a full ten minuets before Potions, plenty of time. Plenty of time until he passed that broom closet and felt a forceful pair of hand pull him in. He tried to make a reach for his wand, but a firm pair of lips pressing against his told him it wasn't the kind of danger that required a wand.
Harry pulled back and tried to get his eyes to adjust but is was too dark to make out who was standing opposite of him.
"I'm really getting tired of these games."
He knew that giggling voice, "Pavarti? What are you doing?"
"What you want me to, did you get my wishing potion?" she asked quietly.
"You sent that to me?" Harry continued.
She giggled, "of course I did silly." Leaning closer to his ear, "I bet I know what you wished for."
"What?" he replied stupidly before she flung herself onto him for another kiss.
"Pavarti," he chocked out as he pulled back from her embrace.
"Harry, stop playing hard to get. We've got the perfect cover with me dating Terry and you dating Cho. Nobody has to know about this," she whispered into his ear so softly that goose bumps rose on his body.
He tried to shake himself, "I'm not dating Cho."
"My sister says you are," Pavarti smirked. "You did visit her while she was in the hospital wing."
"We're just friends," Harry said flatly.
"Do you kiss all your friends?" she continued to interrogate.
Harry sighed, "Pavarti, I really like you, but I can't do this. It would be fair to Terry or to you."
"What more do I have to do Potter, I'm throwing myself at you! I'll dump Terry if that's what you want!" Pavarti pleaded.
Harry felt terrible, she had to really like him if she was willing to pull a stunt like this, "it isn't you, I've already told you. I can't handle a relationship right now."
"What are you so afraid of?" she questioned skeptically.
"Nothing," Harry said instantly.
She made a reach for his hand in the dark, and after stumbling clumsily a few times found it, "we could try, I know you like me. I can tell by the way you look at me."
"I do like you, but," he started.
"No buts, if you like me and I like you then why can't we work something out. Unless there is something go on between you and Cho."
"Nothing is going on between me and Cho Chang. I just don't think it would be a good idea for us to date," Harry tried again.
He could feel her frustration though the dark without even seeing her face, " that isn't good enough, give me a real reason."
"I don't want you to get hurt. I'm not the safest person to socialize with incase you haven't noticed," Harry tried to joke.
She giggled, "I like my men dangerous."
"Please Pavarti, can't we just be friends."
"Fine," she finally conceded before placing another kiss smack on his lips, "with privileges."
Pavarti opened the closet door and a splash of light burned Harry's eyes as she disappeared. His stomach did a few back flips as he watched her walk away. She was persistent, he had to give her that.
His spell binding moment finally ended and with a quick glance around the empty corridors he let out a few choice words, third class in a row he was going to be late to now. Snape would surely give him detention, and he had DA tonight.
"Why Mr. Potter, finally decided to grace us with your appearance I see," Snape cooed as Harry made his way into class.
Harry lowered his eyes, "sorry professor, I was talking to Professor Trelawney."
"May I inquire for what reason?" Snape continued dangerously.
Harry took a deep breath, "I was explaining to her why I missed class today."
"Continue," Snape instructed.
"That's it," Harry tried to finish.
"Well, your excuse is as pathetic as usual," Snape said hatefully before turning away. "Ten points from Gryffindor and detention tonight."
"But," Harry started to argue.
"You don't approve," Snape said suddenly.
"I have a meeting tonight I need to attend," Harry said knowing it was pointless.
Snape let a evil grin creep across his face, "tonight, I believe someone needs to clean out the owlery."
Hermione let out a sigh of relief when she noticed that Harry wasn't going to argue back.
"Looks like you'll have to take over the DA tonight," Harry said as they gathered their things at the end of class.
"Why were you late anyways?" Hermione asked.
"I've said already, I was telling Trelawney why I missed class," Harry stated.
"Did Professor O'Riley say anything?" Hermione pushed.
"Not really, we're going to start Occlemency."
Hermione smiled, "that's wonderful, I so glad you've decided to restart your lessons."
"Harry, wait up!" called a sweet voice from across the hall.
Harry took a deep breath recognizing her voice instantly.
"Hello Cho," Harry greeted noticing her eyes lingering on Hermione for a second longer than he would have preferred.
"I was wondering if we could talk," Cho said carefully.
"Hermione, I'll catch up with you later," Harry said taking Cho's arm and leading her in the opposite direction.
"Don't forget we have Magical Creatures after lunch," Hermione reminded him.
Harry nodded.
"What happened last night, what did Dumbledore say?" Cho said as soon as they got out of earshot.
"Nothing really, he wants me to start defense lessons with Professor O'Riley," Harry said vaguely.
"Defense lesson, on top of class and DA, how much more Defense do you need?" Cho questioned.
Harry smiled, "are you going to lunch right now?"
"No, I have Herbology in the green house now," Cho said sadly.
"Can you meet me tonight?" Harry suddenly said feeling slightly mischievous.
"After DA?" Cho asked skeptically.
"No, Hermione taking over tonight, I have detention," Harry said bitterly.
Cho narrowed her eyes, "when then?"
"Meet me right outside the Ravenclaw entrance at midnight," he said with a grin.
"Harry, we'll be caught," she protested.
"Trust me, will you be there?" Harry pushed.
She nodded nervously with an eager expression as if she was thinking, "what in the world is he up to?"